Viscount

Viscount is the seventh rank in the Imperial aristocracy, and is the first fully-involved level in Imperial politics. A Viscount, as opposed to all the other ranks before it, is expected to take part in the Imperial Court with some regularity. They are also charged with joining Crusades and wars, and contributing men, ships, and resources to these efforts.

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A Viscounty is a fully-developed region of "Magna Imperia" or the Greater Empire, and is a bustling center of commerce and media. The vast majority of Imperial Citizens live in a Viscounty, and it is the first bit of information given when a delivery is schedules, for instance. In this, it is roughly equivalent to a "State" or "Province" in old Terran terminology.

All Viscounties are subject to a County, which is ruled by a Count - furthermore, all Viscounties consist of two or more baronies which are ruled by Barons. This system continues on and up the chain until ultimately reaching the vast and sprawling Viceroyalties which span a hundred or more star systems across dozens of lightyears.